Smack: Kyle's no surprise, Carl's prize and clear skies (cont'd)

3. At California, we had weepers, empty seats and petitioners for Robby Gordon's salvation -- so what can we expect to see this weekend in Las Vegas?

Raygan Swan: Flying Elvi!

Joe Menzer: That sounds good.

Raygan Swan: Better attitudes. Weather permitting, that's what you will see! Oh, and the Robby campaign continues on to Vegas. Jim Beam is out for blood on this one!

Dave Rodman: God, this RG issue has me wishing I did more due diligence at Daytona. Seems like the critical point with Nosegate is who saw the part number on the unapproved nose. GEM, Robby and Frank apparently didn't; so Joe, was that piece "on display" all week at Daytona, as confiscated parts typically are?

Joe Menzer: I didn't notice, to tell you the truth.

Dave Rodman: I think I got distracted looking for blood splatters from Tony and Kurt's alleged fracas to pay much attention to spare parts.

Joe Menzer: More's the pity. But I'll tell you what I expect to see in Vegas -- lots of luck at the tables. I'm feeling hot! I know I said it last year, too, but I'm ready to go this time.

Fast Facts

What	UAW-Dodge 400
When	3:30 p.m. ET Sunday
TV	FOX
Radio	PRN / Sirius Ch. 128

• Track Page | Tickets | Travel

Raygan Swan: Joe, if you win, remember who gives you snacks in the media center!

Dave Rodman: LVMS has Cup tickets and Neon Garage passes for sale, and it's race week. With Atlanta being the California of the East, is this gonna be a tough early season for Cup tracks on the ticket front?

Joe Menzer: Ticket sales may be a problem, and they shouldn't panic about it -- but they probably will. Gas is getting ready to go up to $4 a gallon. People are hurting. Traveling to races will take a hit.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, when tickets typically cost about $1,000 a weekend! That said, NASCAR fans are rabid and they will do anything to see their favorite drivers race. I learned that this weekend in California.

Dave Rodman: If Cali's track action was any indication, I think Vegas will be a rollicking good time -- if the guys can keep it out of the wall. Remember the testing "crash-fest?"

Joe Menzer: Isn't Kyle Busch usually pretty good at Vegas?

Dave Rodman: And it will be interesting to keep this front end geometry / suspension failure issue at least on the side burner. If Hendrick Motorsports, of all people, had a stress-related suspension issue at Daytona, what can we expect at Vegas and Atlanta -- two pretty quick 1.5s?

Raygan Swan: That is Kyle's home track, right Joe?

Dave Rodman: Yes, Kyle is good there. I remember the last time I was in Vegas for a race -- was probably Kyle's rookie year -- and he was hollering about Tony Stewart (yup, his current teammate) trying to kill him.

Joe Menzer: Yep. That's what I'm saying. Kyle's hot. It's his town. I'm not revealing who my Pick 'em choice is, but it might be the young Mr. Busch.

Dave Rodman: They were running top five at the time, Kyle ended up, I believe, third. But I bet neither one of them particularly remembers that.

Joe Menzer: What? Are you kidding me? I'll bet they both remember it -- and have since joked about it, now that they're teammates.

Raygan Swan: Busch for president!

Dave Rodman: And Kyle hates that acronyminal car, don'tch'a know? Sounds like a potential winner to me. And you thought I was gonna say the "C" word, didn't you?

Joe Menzer: Yeah, what were we calling it earlier? The WCHEO .... WCO ... ? How about That Car? Or the Whatever Car?

Dave Rodman: On another note, you know what will be the final nail in the coffin for RG?

Raygan Swan: What?

Dave Rodman: Everyone says NASCAR hates him and if it was Junior being penalized, Junior would get off. Well, Junior also has an appeal pending and here's a non-news flash: Junior's Nationwide crew ain't getting Chad Walter back before his five- or six-race suspension is up, either.

Joe Menzer: But word on the street, though, is that this time NASCAR might just let Robby win his appeal. The whole thing has gotten a little silly, in my opinion.

Dave Rodman: Well, wouldn't that be cool as hell? I think NASCAR has painted itself into a somewhat inextricable corner with its standardization of penalties for the new car. I think they should have issued a new part number decal to Robby at Daytona and swept this one under the damned rug.

Joe Menzer: I actually think I agree with you. Imagine that?

Dave Rodman: Frightfully discomfiting.

Raygan Swan: Speaking of that, problems are going to arise when any organization operates on a black-and-white, zero-tolerance policy, because life is gray!

Dave Rodman: Definitely. All the factors in Robby's case don't add up to the penalty he got. Who knows? He may catch a break. Circumstances certainly seem to indicate NASCAR could halve his penalties: $50,000, three races for Frank the crew chief and 50 points apiece for the driver and owner -- and they'd still make a point.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, well -- I doubt we will see Mike Helton wearing the "Rally for Robby" T-shirt anytime soon!

Dave Rodman: It's Vegas. We ought to put Paris Hilton in one and have her sidle up to Mike this weekend for a photo opp. If you thought his expression last year was priceless ...

Raygan Swan: I have two of them by the way -- $20 apiece but for you, Rodman -- $15!

Joe Menzer: Hey, what about me?

Dave Rodman: Thanks, Raygs. A dealer you always were. You should go to Vegas!

Joe Menzer: Easy, Roadman. That's MY turf!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.